Prometheus' Orb (Legends of the Dark Creatures Book 1)
Chapter Five: A Fair Warning

“I wonder what could have caused all that dust in the woods,” Luke said, staring at the thick cloud of brown dust rising in the distance. He shrugged, turned, and fixed his brown eyes on Richard; giving him a very questioning look.

“So Richard,” Luke said, bouncing his basketball “You still haven’t told us how you and Ashley know each other.”

Richard moved his head in Ashley’s direction; hoping she could help him out. But Ashley had only an embarrassed look on her face. She held both straps of her dark red bag and flashed a beautiful, heart-stirring smile at him. An interrogation from Ashley’s friends wasn’t something on Richard’s list of plans today but Ashley appeared to be enjoying it.

“Well, um... we met yesterday,” Richard finally said.

He saw Ashley’s jaw almost drop. Perhaps he wasn’t supposed to reveal that.

“Yesterday you say...” This time it was the one named Robert who spoke. He walked past Richard and stood in front of Ashley. “Well, that’s interesting Ashley. You spent most of the day with us. And we all went left the beach at six in the evening. So I’m curious Ashley, why didn’t you tell us about your... new friend? Unless you met him later in the night! Don’t tell me Adrian’s has already been replaced... Ashley, how could—?”

A choked cough escaped Robert’s mouth after receiving a blow in the stomach from Ashley’s elbow.

“Geez Robert, you just never know when to shut your mouth, do you?” Ashley said, walking towards the school building.

“Serves you right,” Luke said as he laughed at Robert, who was now on his knees mimicking a person about to die.

Richard truly admired the bond Ashley shared with her friends. They were all happy to be around her; Richard could read it in their bright auras but he could also see it in both their shining eyes and smiles. A bond like this was something he wanted— something he had been searching for all these millennia. But it was something he could never have; especially not with these good people. How could he allow himself to get close to anyone? He was immortal and someday they would notice that he never aged; someday he would have to leave this town. Besides, there was the fact that the very substance that flowed through their veins was what Richard fed on for sustenance.

He shook his head and diverted his thoughts toward the school. This was his first time attending a human learning institution and Richard didn’t know what to expect. Of course, he had acquired an education back when he was a merman. But being born in the royal family, and together with the fact that he was a water element master, Richard attained knowledge quite differently from ordinary merfolk.

When he was five years old, Richard was required to choose a Guide. Guides were responsible for teaching children of the royal families the ways of the world. They were skilled at almost everything; science, literature, alchemy, stone carving, fighting, and some were even element masters. Guides would spend exactly twenty years with their apprentices and would be rewarded according to how well the apprentice developed.

A lump formed in Richard’s throat when he remembered the day he chose his Guide. Who would have thought that Ethan—the one who Richard spent over twenty years learning from— would become the monster he hated with all of his beings?

“Hey Richard, you coming? The tour isn’t over you know.”

Richard was pulled out of his reverie by Ashley’s elated voice. He slowly turned in her direction and saw her waving at him. Luke and Robert were already standing next to her.

With a smile on his face, Richard walked to her and she continued showing him around the school.

“...and to the end of this hallway are the sports facilities,” Ashley said, wearing a proud look. They had just entered the building and Ashley seemed to know every inch of this school. She spared no details; telling him where to replace the offices, classes, laboratories, bathrooms, and a few people he could talk to if he ever needed help.

“And in case you’ve already forgotten... the principal’s office is right upstairs. Just walk to the end of this hallway, turn left, take the stairs, go straight, turn to the first right corridor, and replace the fifth door on your left.”

“I doubt anyone can forget that,” Robert sarcastically underneath his breath.

“What was that jerk?” Ashley shot, throwing Robert a threatening eye.

“Nothing,” Robert replied.

“Hi guys!” a female voice called from behind.

Richard seemed to be the only one in the group who didn’t recognize it. He also noticed that, out of everyone, Luke’s heart rate had elevated; beating frantically like a drum. Richard suppressed a chuckle. Luke’s face was almost turning red, he was biting his lips and his body looked as stiff as a stone statue; a reaction Richard knew all too well.

“Hey Claire,” Ashley happily exclaimed, giving her red-haired friend a hug.

Claire wore a fairly tight red skirt, long high-heeled boots, and an exquisite creamy white top with long sleeves that almost covered her fingers.

Throwing a quick glance at Richard, she raised an eyebrow and stared at Ashley.

“Oh, this is Richard... Richard... um...”

Richard realized that he hadn’t told Ashley his last name.

“Thane,” Richard said, extending his hand towards Claire. “Richard Thane.”

“Claire Reynolds,” she replied, shaking his hand. Though her hazel-colored eyes were gleaming with curiosity, her voice was light, sweet, and welcoming.

Robert let out a muffled cough, stealing everyone’s attention.

“Hello... we are also here,” he said, crossing his arms.

“Oh hey, Robert... Hi Luke,” Claire said, sending a warm bright smile his way.

“H-Hey, Claire,” Luke said, his voice slightly high-pitched and his hand playing with his hair.

Claire looked around the group studiedly and asked, “Why aren’t Samantha and Adrian with you guys?”

Everyone was quiet but Ashley seemed to be more disturbed than the rest. She was facing the ground and her dark brown eyes were overshadowed with sad lines.

Ashley squeezed her eyes shut for a split second, turned to Claire, and said, “Samantha said there was something she needed to take care of first.”

Richard may only have known Ashley for a short while but this was the first time he heard her tell a lie. It wasn’t just the hesitation in her voice but Richard could simply tell. Fifty thousand years of observing humans would do that to you, he thought.

He, however, knew that it was none of his business so he quickly brushed the thought away.

“Anyway Ash,” Claire said. “I met Alex on my way here and she said something about you being late.”

Ashley’s eyes suddenly flew wide open and she slapped her left palm on her forehead.

“Oh God, I totally forgot,” Ashley said, quickly reaching for the left pocket of her deep blue jeans. She pulled out a red smartphone and was about to type something when she looked at Richard.

Before she could say anything, Richard smiled at her and said, “I think it’s time I headed to the principal’s office... thanks for the tour.”

Ashley gave him a quick nod, grabbed Claire by her hand, and the two left running.

“We should be heading for class too,” Luke notified. “It was great meeting you Richard.”

Luke and Robert also left but not before giving Richard one of the so-called ‘bro-hugs’. Apparently, he had been accepted into their group. Claire had mentioned two more of their friends; Samantha and Adrian.

Richard found himself hoping that they would also be as forthcoming as the rest of Ashley’s friends.

Following Ashley’s directions, Richard walked down the hallway, positively responding to a few waves from people he didn’t know— yet.

A huge silver door was at the end of the hallway. Richard recalled that it led to the sports facilities. He turned to his left and saw a flight of stairs. He was about to move when he heard it.

“Richard Thane. I know you can hear me. It’s been a long time.”

It was a male voice— almost whispering. Richard was the only one who could hear it coming from inside the silver door.

He reluctantly opened the door and found himself on an indoor basketball court. He walked over to the perfectly finished hardwood floor and stood in the center of the court. All curtains were down, casting dark shadows over the upper seats of the court.

Someone was lurking in those shadows.

Richard sent out a wave of power that probed for his target. There was no feedback.

“You know you haven’t changed one bit... pretending to be human and later having your way with them.”

There was something strangely familiar in this voice; as if he had heard it somewhere before.

“Show yourself,” he demanded in a low voice.

A sharp hiss sliced through the air behind him and in a quick spinning motion, Richard grabbed an arrow that had shot out of the shadows. But he immediately let go when it began to burn him.

As the red blister on his palm faded, Richard stared at the black arrow on the floor. The arrow was soaked in pure ocean water which meant he was facing someone who knew his weaknesses. Furthermore, he recognized the unique design of the silver-tipped arrowhead and black shaft; this arrow belonged to a Hunter.

In less than a second, Richard dashed to where the arrow came from. He amplified his vision but saw nothing there except for a black crossbow that lay on one of the seats.

"Uh, darkness... Precisely where monsters like you belong,” the voice said. It was now coming from the seats on the opposite side of the court.

This was no ordinary enemy. Hunters were masters of stealth and knew how to avoid detection from dark creatures. They all wielded formidable weapons and... Wait— formidable weapons...

Richard jerked his head towards the crossbow but he was too late. He could have heard the almost indistinct mechanical sounds that came from it if he had just paid more attention.

A blinding white light emanated from the crossbow followed by a sharp piercing sound that caused a throbbing pain in Richard’s ears. Richard knelt down and pressed his palms against his ears. He gritted his teeth, suppressing a cry as the pain surging through his head worsened.

By the time the light subsided and the sound stopped, Richard’s back was already against the floor and his eyes stared into the blurry distorted image of the ceiling.

Footsteps approached him. It was all darkness at first but the darkness began to take form; the form of a person in a black leather hood. The person concealed the lower part of his face with a mask. In his right hand was a sword as black as midnight and in his left hand... a wooden stake.

The Hunter looked down at him. When Richard stared into their eyes his body froze. It was like staring into a mirror. In those dark eyes, Richard saw contempt, sorrow, pain, and an immense desire for vengeance. They were the same eyes he once had; eyes he always directed towards Ethan.

Who was this person?

Even when the masked man raised his sword, Richard still couldn’t move his body. The air entering his nose was laced with a poison that was choking and paralyzing him— probably coming from the crossbow. Damn it. He hated this feeling. He was a predator being treated like prey. This was exactly how Ethan made him feel for countless millennia.

Sharp fangs bit into Richard’s lower lip and he could feel his claws tearing through the seats beside him. He wasn’t going to die like this.

The Hunter thrashed his sword at Richard’s neck. In a flash, Richard launched a kick in the guy’s stomach, causing his blade to swing slightly above his neck. The Hunter staggered backward. Richard felt power rush through him as he slowly stood up. An intense burning sensation surged through his body— burning the poison circulating in his blood— and a flame burst out of his right hand. His entire body was trembling in excitement; the monster inside him was awakening.

Richard’s breaths turned into animal-like groans and he licked his lips. He forgot all he saw in the person’s eyes. At that moment, all he cared about was ripping out his heart or better yet... sucking out every ounce of his blood.

“Now that’s the monster I know,” the Hunter said, dropping into a defensive stance.

Only growls came out of Richard’s mouth.

I’ll kill him... Kill him... KILL HIM!!!

“Richard really is a nice guy.”

Richard’s eyes widened and his body stood motionless. He hadn’t realized just how much he had enhanced his hearing but when he heard Ashley’s voice it was like being pulled out of a nightmare. Though it was for only a brief moment, hearing Ashley’s voice was enough to bring Richard back to his senses. The flame in his hand disappeared: together with all the blood lust and rage.

He was still panting and his heart was still racing when he heard the Hunter speak.

“Seems luck is on your side today demon.”

Richard could hear people entering the other facilities but since he had toned down his hearing they were just distant noises to him. Perhaps Ashley was one of them, he thought. The Hunter walked towards him, took off his hood, and pulled down his mask.

From a human’s point of view, there really was no difference in age between Richard and the guy standing in front of him. He had short silky dark hair and a lean build.

A sly smirk formed on the guy’s face as he sheathed his sword behind his back.

“Who are you?” Richard asked, in a surprisingly calm voice.

“Who I am doesn’t matter but what I’ve to say does,” the guy replied.

“I suppose I’m the target of your Grand Hunt,” said Richard. “Hunters never show their faces except to the creatures they face on their sacred ritual; the Al-Sayd Al-Kabeer.”

Amusement dawned on the guy’s face. Even the deadly look in his eyes disappeared for a second.

“Of course, you know all about the Hunters. Then you must know what my sword signifies right?”

“The Black Sword,” Richard replied, holding a chair to support his weight. “Only those who rank Captain or higher have the honor of wielding them. It is the only enchanted weapon the Hunters possess and if memory saves me well, even the smallest cut from it has the power to cause unimaginable pain.”

“Indeed. So listen Richard Thane, I don’t know why you came back here but you saved me the trouble of replaceing you myself. My name is Adrian Pearce and by my honor as a Hunter, I will drive this sword into your heart.”

Wait Adrian... as in Ashley’s boyfriend?

Richard now remembered where he had heard Adrian’s voice. It was one of the voices that called out to Ashley yesterday when they met.

Adrian walked to Richard and pointed his wooden stake at him.

“And one more thing,” he said, his voice calm yet intensely threatening. “If you ever come anywhere near Ashley or my friends again I’ll not hesitate to put you down, right there then... no matter the consequences.”

Adrian picked up his crossbow and disappeared into the shadows.

Richard sighed and slowly staggered his way through the seats. He came across some stairs and walked down to the floor. This wasn’t good, he thought. Did the Hunters forget the deal they made with him? Why would they allow someone to come after him? And on a Grand Hunt of all things. This, together with the fact that Adrian had referred to him as ′the monster he knew′ troubled Richard. He was sure he had never met Adrian before.

A memory suddenly ran through his mind. Adrian Pearce... Could he be George Pearce’s son? If that was the case then he was the nephew of Alexander Pearce.

Despite himself, Richard smirked and shook his head. I guess this was to be expected.

Richard would indeed never truly escape his past.

I am truly sorry for what happened to you Adrian, Richard thought. But I can’t heed your warning.

He reached the door and left the court.

When he was out, he turned to his left and then his right. They were stairs in both directions. Even after everything that had happened, Richard was still able to smile when only one thought crossed his mind.

Now, which way did Ashley say I should take... left or right?

***

Just out of curiosity guys... How are you enjoying the plot so far? Any plot holes you have noticed? Or maybe anything that wasn’t explained clearly?

Thanks again for reading this far and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please comment on what you think.